The words ‘hair loss’ or ‘balding’ are commonly associated with men, but it may surprise you to know that this condition affects many women. We just don’t notice it as much because women cover up the problem by wearing wigs, other hair-pieces, hats, or weaves. Let’s look at what causes hair loss in women.

Before discussing the causes, it is must be emphasized that the key to treating hair loss is to see a doctor as soon as the hair begins to fall out. This will improve your chances of having the condition reversed. Don’t ignore the situation – this could result in the worst case scenario, i. E. Baldness. Luckily for women, the success rate of reversal is quite good.

Hair loss is medically referred to as alopecia. Very prevalent in women is traction alopecia. As the name suggests, the follicles are literally pulled by wigs, tight-fitting hats, or weaves. The follicles cannot stand up to this long-term stress and eventually fall out. Some fancy hairstyles can bring on traction alopecia.

Even tight-fitting hats will put strain on the follicles. Alopecia in men is also frequently caused by hats that fit too tightly. Women wishing to keep a full head of hair should therefore take heed of these causes. The bottom line is don’t put undue stress on your hair for long periods of time.

A temporary loss of hair by women often occurs during menstruation or by hormonal changes. This condition is called telogen effiuvium – a fancy word for the temporary loss of hair. Emotional and physical stress, side-effects of some medications, and thyroid problems can cause it.

Another variety of alopecia in women is alopecia Areata. This is an uneven spread of hair loss that can be the result of mineral or nutrient deficiencies which weaken the immune system; hence the follicles are unable to offer any resistance. This can often be rectified with a balanced diet as well as vitamin and mineral supplements.

You can now see why it is vital that you see a doctor at the first sign of loss or thinning of your hair. During menstruation many women have thinning of the hair. This can be a side-effect of oral contraceptives, or when menopause approaches. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help.

Finally, female alopecia can be genetic (as with men) due to too much testosterone. The excess testosterone is converted to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which kills off the hair follicles. Research is still underway to find a treatment to prevent the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Want to find out more about what causes hair loss in women, then visit John Farikani’s site on how to choose the best hair loss for your needs.